THE Co-operative Group has announced that it is to transfer its operations from two distribution centres, at Wellington and Bridgwater in Somerset, to a new site near Bristol in 2012.

As a result of the changes, it proposes to close its distribution centre at the Chelston Business Park in Wellington.

Operations at the Wincanton-operated Somerfield distribution centre, on a split site at the Huntworth Business Park in Bridgwater, will also relocate.

The announcement follows a full strategic review of The Co-operative Group’s distribution network, to ensure it can continue to provide a first class delivery service to its food stores, following The Co-operative Group’s acquisition of Somerfield in 2009.

As a result of the review, The Co-operative Group is to invest £20m to build a new regional distribution centre at Avonmouth, near Bristol.

The 310 staff at Chelston, and 421 at Huntworth, will be offered the opportunity to transfer to the new site, and it is hoped that as many as possible will do so.

The new 430,000 sq ft facility will serve around 400 Co-operative food stores in the Bristol, north Somerset and South Wales areas, and will replace a number of existing smaller depots in the region, including Chelston.

Subject to legal agreements and planning consent, the new distribution centre is expected to open in early 2012.

Until the new site is fully operational, it is proposed that the Chelston depot will remain open and that Huntworth will continue its deliveries to Co-operative Group food stores.

Mark Leonard, The Co-operative Group’s Regional Head of Logistics, said: “The acquisition of Somerfield, with its many stores in South Wales and in and around Bristol, meant we needed a regional distribution centre in a location from where we could provide our enlarged store estate with an excellent service.

“This in no way reflects the commitment and hard work of staff at Chelston and Huntworth, whose performance has been exemplary.

"We hope as many staff as possible will be able to transfer to Avonmouth once it is operational.”

As well as Chelston and Huntworth, the new Avonmouth depot will take on the operations currently run by Wincanton, on behalf of The Co-operative Group, at Portbury, near Bristol.

For more and reaction to the news, see Thursday's Somerset County Gazette.